Revelations 11

Yesterday I put up two blogs, hopefully broadcasting the second one today.

But if you clicked on the link (reported by DW) you get the one I did not share, Revelations 10. She liked that one. It was shorter than Rev. 9. So read them both if you like. I am going to comment on Revelations 11 today. I tend to get distracted and post less as the week goes on. That's why I did two on Monday. So we will see how it goes.
======
We have covered the seven seals. The seventh seal brings the seven trumpets. The trumpets herald an important event. That's what the blowing of the trumpet does right? If an important person is coming he organizes some trumpeters to blow a flourish.

In each case the seventh is much bigger than the previous six. There is a pause before the seventh seal. There is a pause before the seventh trumpet. Seven is a number signifying completion. There is something greater about the seventh sign, whether seal or trumpet. This may have meant something to the first readers. I do not know what it is though.

The number seven gets involved in the discussion about what city John is referring to. Quite a few cities in the ancient world were known for seven hills. Rome certainly is famous for seven hills. But Jerusalem too was known for many hills. I think Athens and Babylon too had famous hills.

The beginning of the chapter speaks of John measuring the temple. He was to measure the inner court for "the outer court is dedicated to the nations". So this seems like we are referring to Jerusalem. But most people that John had his Revelation after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. But what if it was written before.

In 11:8 John mentions that the two prophets live in the great city which is named spiritually as Sodom and Egypt. I think this city is Jerusalem but many, if not most say it refers to Rome. The prophets prophesied for 3 1/2 years. The Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye places them in the temple district, in the inner court. The author get a lot of mileage out of the prophets. They never seem to eat. They never leave the temple. They are spiritual beings but they look like men. The two prophets are often thought to represent Moses and Elijah.

What did they prophesy? Did they speak against unholy living? Did they warn of impending judgment like the Jewish prophets of old? Did they speak of salvation, repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ? That would make them different, New Testament prophets.

The seventh trumpet seems to open the reign of Jesus. 11:18 reminds us of Psalm 2. "Why do the nations rage?" Psalm 2 is a royal psalm. It speaks of God appointing his Son to sit on the throne and reign. Sitting implies all the work is done. Either Jesus has already completed his work or God is going to do it for him.

In Psalm 2 the nations are admonished to be wise and worship the appointed king. We know Jesus has done the work and earned the right to be our king. He came to serve us and became our savior. He loves us. It is much easier to serve a master who loves us and always has our best in mind.

But even so we often think we know better than God. We chafe and rage against him. When we are tempted to get like that it is good to remember God loves us and knows what is best, despite the circumstances. God loves us but he also has given authority to his son Jesus. We worship Jesus the Son also because it is right. We are ordered to do it. Giving homage to rulers is foreign to Americans. Still in this it is "meet and right so to do".